Skateboarders urged to use skateparks

Young skateboarders in Bega Valley Shire are being urged to make the most of local skateparks.

The advice comes after the Bega Chamber of Commerce received a number of written complaints from businesses concerned that skateboarders were putting pedestrians at risk in the Bega central business district.

The Bega Valley Shire Council's Peter Dickson says many of the complaints related to near-collisions in shopping areas.

"There's been a few near misses. A lot of the elderly people can't get out of the way and there's a lot of shoppers about at the moment and the facilities that council provided are there for their benefit," Mr Dickson said.